Alistair is too slow, or conserving energy, or something, but he does make an obligatory attempt at shoving his shield sideways in front of Nathaniel while he shields his face with his bent sword arm. It's not enough. But he doesn't stop, either, Nathaniel downs Erimond, and Alistair slams his shield into the face of the nearest Warden mage. Hercules had the right idea there. Get down, stay down, don't die, he's sorry--

Less noisily, there's white light that bleeds out in licks over his mail and the blade of his sword. It's the only visible sign of a Templar's particular brand of quasi-magic, of connections to the Fade being cinched shut by his presence. He sticks close to Nathaniel and Erimonds' downed forms, nearly on top of them, purely playing defense against the closest demons until it's safer to help drag Erimond to his feet and out of the gorge.